Paris’ Bike Revolution

Since the late 1990′s, Paris has increased its designated cycle paths and invested in making Paris as green a city to travel in as possible. Currently, there’s about 231 miles of pathways and since 2007, when the cycle rental system, ‘Vélib’ was introduced, Paris has ranked as one of the best cities to see by bike.

Cheap, safe, easy, just turn up and go.At EUR1.70 per day or EUR8 per week subscription, to use the bicycles as much as you want, cycling is a very cheap way to see this beautiful city, and with easy to use stations at all cycle parks, all that’s needed is a debit/credit card. The only thing to be aware of is that there is s deposit charge of EUR150 that will come off your card should any damage occur. Apart from that, just return the cycle within 30 minutes and the subscription charge is all you’ll pay. In regards to safety, wearing cycle helmets is not mandatory, however, in a city that’s this cycle friendly you’re far safer anyway.

Take the scenic routeFor a guide, go to www.paris.fr, where all the routes, which criss-cross most of the city from East/West and North/South, are available with, ‘Le Itineraires Paris-Pietons-Velos-Rollers.’ This is a series of scenic routes in Paris, open to traffic apart from on Sundays and Bank Holidays, when cars are banned.

See the winding medieval district from a bike seat.Cycle up the Siene, take in some of Paris’s famous sights and perhaps stay in the city’s oldest district, Marais. Under threat from redevelopment several times over the past few hundred years, this medieval part of Paris has been renovated and has become a wonderful place for art galleries, and for cyclists to roam. Stay somewhere super comfortable like, Hotel Georgette Paris and you’re guaranteed a good stay.

Coasting by ‘Les Invalides’ on a bike is a breezeOr stay on the opposite side of the Siene, in the super modern, Hotel du Cadran Paris, and cycle down the wide boulevards, built by Louis XIV in the 17th century, and view the magnificent ‘Les Invalides’.